When I visited the Shinto temple at Monzen Nakacho, I did not even know the name of the temple itself. During my stay at Day Nice Hotel last year, I used to walk on Monzen Nakacho streets at evenings to have a look at different varieties of Japanese food displayed in front of restaurants and Japanese shops.
I have seen two temples during such evening walk but feared to enter inside alone. The fear was due to my ignorance that I may need permission to enter into a Japanese temple. After hearing from friends that Japanese temples are not like the Hindu temples in India, where only Hindu people are allowed to enter, I had a desire to visit those temples at Monzen Nakacho.
I was alone today visiting the temples, and I was the only gaikokujin (foreigner) at the premise. Here, when I say I was the only gaikokujin it clearly reflects my inability to distinguish the Koreans, Chinese or similar looking foreigners from Japanese people. Though I could recognize many of the East Asians other than Japanese from the gestures, dressing style and attitudes it required more observations and not by a mere look at them. There might be more foreigners from Korea or China or some other East Asian countries. My face was the only ‘different face’.
Anyway alone, but with many friendly Japanese people all around, I never felt, I am alone or different from them. When I entered inside I could see a statue and started thinking who it will be. I had no idea. I thought he will be the founder of this Shinto temple. Let me tell you frankly, as I wrote in the first, I did not know the name of the temple itself!
But information always comes with exploration of new places and things. Had not I been visited the temple today, I would have still remained ignorant on some of the interesting information on Monzen Nakacho.
What to say, my pure luck? When I was standing in front the statue of a man and trying to interpret the Kanji characters written on the black stone behind to get some idea of the man, I saw one Japanese young man looking at me with his face full of friendly smile! Oh, I could approach him, because he was friendly and seemed interested in offering his help. To be frank, I have seen during similar situations, Japanese people are friendly and helpful contrary to what I read from many websites.
I have seen two temples during such evening walk but feared to enter inside alone. The fear was due to my ignorance that I may need permission to enter into a Japanese temple. After hearing from friends that Japanese temples are not like the Hindu temples in India, where only Hindu people are allowed to enter, I had a desire to visit those temples at Monzen Nakacho.
I was alone today visiting the temples, and I was the only gaikokujin (foreigner) at the premise. Here, when I say I was the only gaikokujin it clearly reflects my inability to distinguish the Koreans, Chinese or similar looking foreigners from Japanese people. Though I could recognize many of the East Asians other than Japanese from the gestures, dressing style and attitudes it required more observations and not by a mere look at them. There might be more foreigners from Korea or China or some other East Asian countries. My face was the only ‘different face’.
Anyway alone, but with many friendly Japanese people all around, I never felt, I am alone or different from them. When I entered inside I could see a statue and started thinking who it will be. I had no idea. I thought he will be the founder of this Shinto temple. Let me tell you frankly, as I wrote in the first, I did not know the name of the temple itself!
But information always comes with exploration of new places and things. Had not I been visited the temple today, I would have still remained ignorant on some of the interesting information on Monzen Nakacho.
What to say, my pure luck? When I was standing in front the statue of a man and trying to interpret the Kanji characters written on the black stone behind to get some idea of the man, I saw one Japanese young man looking at me with his face full of friendly smile! Oh, I could approach him, because he was friendly and seemed interested in offering his help. To be frank, I have seen during similar situations, Japanese people are friendly and helpful contrary to what I read from many websites.
With a small introduction, he became my guide to the temple! He could speak English which I could follow too. Thanks to the stranger friend. If you happen to read this blog, please put your comments. There is a ‘Ta’ in his name, other parts of his name I could not remember and anyway, it is not fair to put his name on this blog without his permission. Let me call him ‘Ta-san’. As per Ta-san, the statue is Ino Tadataka, who was the great surveyor of Japan. Ino Tadatakasan started his survey from Hokkaido.
Later, after coming back to home, I searched for Tadataka-san and learned more about him. Otherwise, I would have forgotten the name of Ino Tadataka-san also with in a day or two. I have still that problem of remembering Japanese names.
Ino Tadataka was born in a village in Chiba Prefecture. He was adopted at the age of seventeen into the Trio family in Sawara. After working actively for the community of Honjuku and his family's business for thirty-two years, Ino Tadataka-san retired at the age of forty nine.
Ino Tadataka-san studied Western astronomy under Takahashi Yoshitoki, a specialist in the astronomy and calendar department of the Tokugawa Shogunate. With an order from the Shogunate, Ino Tadataka-san started a tour for surveying the whole of Japan to make accurate maps, using precision instruments for his astronomical observations.
During Edo period many Japanese people tried to imbibe Western science and technology into Japan for modernizing Japan. Ino Tadataka was one of such famous figure. His map of Japan won praises from all the quarters. Again, before forgetting let me write down the name of the shrine I visited today at Monzen Nakacho. It is Tomioka Hachiman shrine.
Later, after coming back to home, I searched for Tadataka-san and learned more about him. Otherwise, I would have forgotten the name of Ino Tadataka-san also with in a day or two. I have still that problem of remembering Japanese names.
Ino Tadataka was born in a village in Chiba Prefecture. He was adopted at the age of seventeen into the Trio family in Sawara. After working actively for the community of Honjuku and his family's business for thirty-two years, Ino Tadataka-san retired at the age of forty nine.
Ino Tadataka-san studied Western astronomy under Takahashi Yoshitoki, a specialist in the astronomy and calendar department of the Tokugawa Shogunate. With an order from the Shogunate, Ino Tadataka-san started a tour for surveying the whole of Japan to make accurate maps, using precision instruments for his astronomical observations.
During Edo period many Japanese people tried to imbibe Western science and technology into Japan for modernizing Japan. Ino Tadataka was one of such famous figure. His map of Japan won praises from all the quarters. Again, before forgetting let me write down the name of the shrine I visited today at Monzen Nakacho. It is Tomioka Hachiman shrine.
Tadataka-san's contribution is great to all Japanese people. He was praised by the then European and American surveyors for his great work. Thanks for sharing your experiences about visiting Tomioka Hachiman shrine.
ReplyDeleteI have visited this temple once.